Ice trays and grids



Feb. 14, 1956 s, D, BUDD 2,734,350

ICE TRAYS AND GRIDS Filed Feb. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1956 s. D. BUDD 2,734,350

ICE TRAYs AND GRIDs Filed Feb- 14, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 h c1. A

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Attorneys United States Patent O assignor to The Stowaca Fibre & Can Company Limited, 'Manchesten England, a body corporate of Great Britain Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 487,847

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 23, 195'4 3 Claims. (Cl. sz-108.5)

This invention relates to the trays or grids-hereinafter referred to as ice traysused for making cubes or blocks of ice in domestic refrigerators and more particularly to improvements in the means for dislodging the cubes or blocks from the tray or grid.

The object of the invention isto provide means for dislodging the cubes or blocks which will be more effective than the usual means and which will not break them but will leave them in the desired shape and which will free them progressively two at a time, so that any desired even number of cubes may be freed and shaken out, the remainder being held.

According to the invention the ice tray is divided longitudinally by a longitudinal partition and transversely by a number of transverse partitions capable of being moved vertically in relation to the longitudinal partition by a bar slidably mounted on the top of the latter, the longitudinal movement of the bar causing the transverse partitions to be raised a short distance clear of the oor of the tray or grid.

The invention is illustrated in and will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the tray, the longitudinal partition, the transverse partition, sliding bar and a cover bar which is arranged over the sliding bar to form a slot in which the sliding bar is located,

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the transverse partitions,

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the tray with the parts assembled therein,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section drawn to a larger scale of one end of the tray showing the assembled partitions therein,

Fig. 5 is a similar section of the other end of the tray,

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but showing the operating handle raised to move the transverse partitions,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end of the tray shown in Fig. 4 showing means for tilting the tray to release it should it become frozen to the floor or shelf of the refrigerator, the tray being in its normal position, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view but showing the tray tilted.

rl`he ice tray A is divided midway longitudinally by a longitudinal partition B adapted to t snugly between the ends of the tray. The partition B is formed with a series of slots b, b1 at equal distances apart and extending downwards for some distance from the top edge of the partition, there being the same number of slots in the longitudinal partition as there are transverse partitions C, the slot b nearest the end a of the tray being vertical or substantially vertical and each successive slot to the slot b1 at the other end a1 of the tray being progressively more inclined to the vertical.

Each transverse partition C is formed midway between its two ends with a vertical slot c extending upwards from its lower edge. One transverse partition C is assembled on the longitudinal partition B at the position of each slot b in the latter by passing the slot c therein over the slot b, the relative depths of the two co-acting slots b and c Patented Feb. 14, 1956 being such that when assembled the lower edges of the transverse partitions C will be in contact with the oor of the tray A as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

When the longitudinal partition B and the transverse partition C are assembled in the tray the partition C at the end a of the tray is vertically or substantially vertical and each succeeding partition is lslightly more inclined to the vertical than the preceding one, the inclination being in a direction that the ltransverse partitions are lslightly further apart at the top thanat the bottom.

Each transverse partition C extends some distance above the top of the longitudinal partitionv B and is provided in the portion which extends above the longitudinal partition with a second vertical slot c1 midway between its ends and closed ytop and bottom. A bar D, slidably mounted on the upper edge of the longitudinal partition B passes through the slot c1 in each of the partitions C, the upper surface of the bar being in engagement with the top end of the slot c1.

A series of notches d spaced at the same equal distance apart as the transverse partitions C are formed in the upper edge of the bar D. One face d1 of each notch d is vertical and the other face d2 is inclined.

The length of each notch d is so arranged that the inclined faces d2 are progressively further away from the vertical faces d1 the length of the notch d nearest the end a of the tray being the shortest.

The sliding bar D is surmounted by a cover bar E secured to the partition B by dovetail projections e fitting into similar shaped recesses b?, one at each end of the bar D, the vcover bar E being so shaped that it forms with the partition B a longitudinal slot in which the bar D can slide.

Each transverse partition C as shown in Fig. 2 is formed on its top edge with a recess c2 midway between its end,

- thecentral portion c3 of ,the recess being raised above vthe bottom thereof. A number of slots e1 are formed in the lower edge of the cover bar E, the slots e1 being spaced apart at the same distance as the transverse partition C and being inclined to the vertical to correspond with the inclination of the partitions C. The central portion c3 of the partition C being located in the slots e1 with one of sutiicient depth to allow of the raising of the partitions without raising the bar E.

An operating handle G is pivotally mounted at one end of the longitudinal partition B and is connected to the sliding bar D by a link g, the angular movement of the handle G being such as to move the sliding bar D the necessary distance to raise the transverse partitions C to the desired amount. For example the angular movement of the handle may be through approximately so that by moving it from a horizontal position to a vertical position the sliding bar D is moved through the desired distance.

When the bar D is in the normal position the lower edges of the transverse partitions C are resting on the oor of the tray, the tops of the upper slots c1 in these partitions being located in the notches d in the bar. Consequently when the bar D is moved longitudinally in relation to the longitudinal partition B the transverse partitions ride up the inclined faces d2 of the notches and are raised away from the floor of the tray or grid.

Moreover, owing to the progressive spacing of the inclined faces d2, only one partition C lifts at a time, and this partition frees two cubes. The elfect is therefore a progressive freeing of the ice cubes as the bar D is moved.

As the top edges of the partitions C are further apart than the bottom edges, it is a simple matter to shake out the loosened cubes.

To assist in dislodging the cubes or blocks from the door of the tray A the lower edge of each transverse 3 partition C may be formed with projections c4 which will lift the ice cubes as the partition rises.

As there is a tendency for the ice tray A to become frozen to the floor or shelf of the refrigerator, means may be provided to tilt the tray. Such means are shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprise a support H which surrounds one end of the tray A and normally rests on the iloor H1. The ends h of the support are bent upwards and are pivotally connected to a U shaped member I pivoted to the tray A. When the member I is depressed, i. e. moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8, the end of the tray A will be raised and consequently the tray will be tilted as shown in Fig. 8 and be freed from the oor of the refrigerator.

I claim:

1. An ice tray for a domestic refrigerator comprising the combination with the tray of a centrally arranged longitudinal partition, the said partition having a plurality of slots extending downwards from its top edge and spaced at equal distances apart, each succeeding slot being more inclined to the vertical than the preceding slot, a plurality of transverse members equal in number to the slots in the longitudinal partition each transverse member having a slot midway between its ends extending upwards from its lower edge whereby the transverse partitions can be assembled with the longitudinal partition, each transverse member also having a second slot above the first slot, a bar slidably mounted on the top of the longitudinal partition, the said bar having a plurality of recesses on its upper edge, the said recesses being equal in number to and at the same distances apart as the slots in the longitudinal partition, one end of each recess being inclined, and the inclined end of each recess being progressively further from the other end thereof, the said bar passing through the upper slots in the transverse partition whereby as the bar is moved the transverse partition will be progressively raised from the floor of the tray and means for moving the bar longitudinally along the top of the longitudinal partition.

2. An ice tray for a domestic refrigerator comprising the combination with the tray of a centrally arranged longitudinal partition, the said partition having a plurality of slots extending downwards from its top edge and spaced at equal distances apart, each succeeding slot being more inclined to the vertical than the preceding slot, a plurality of transverse members equal in number to the slots in the longitudinal partition each transverse member having a slot midway between its ends extending upwards from its lower edge whereby the transverse partitions can be assembled with the longitudinal partition, each transverse member also having a second slot above the first slot, a bar slidably mounted on the top of the longitudinal partition, the said bar having a plurality of recesses on its upper edge, the said recesses being equal in number to and at the same distances apart as the slots in the longitudinal partition, one end of each recess being inclined, and the inclined end of each recess being progressively further from the other end thereof, the said bar passing through the upper slots in the transverse partitions whereby as the bar is moved the transverse partition will be progressively raised from the oor of the tray, means for moving the bar longitudinally along the top of the longitudinal partition, and a cover bar over the top of the sliding bar and co-operating therewith to form a groove in which the said sliding bar can slide.

3. An ice tray for a domestic refrigerator as in claim 2 having means for tilting the tray should it become frozen to its support in the refrigerator.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,651 Binford Feb. 18, 1941 2,251,628 Kelly Aug. 5, 1941 2,297,558 Hintze Sept. 29, 1942 2,410,292 Kitto Oct. 29, 1946 2,456,924 Collister Dec. 2l, 1948 2,516,257 Sampson July 25, 1950 2,622,410 Roberts Dec. 23, 1952 

